Circulator for boiler furnaces and the like



J. H. SUMMER, JR ,ET AL 1,769,194

CIRCULATOR FOR BOIIIER FURNACES AND THE LIKE July 1, 1 930.

1 t e e h Qw s t e e h s 2 Filed April 16, 1929 ion 0 00 0 J 20 0 0 0 00i I I amnion [H'um memJr y 1930- J. H'. SUMMER. JR., ET AL 1,769,194

CIRCULA'IOR FOR BOILER FURNACES AND THE LIKE Filed April 16, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2 v Patented July 1,1930

era-res JAMES n. SUMMER, Jn, Ann LEWIS 0.

cream rrnnAR, or KNOXVILLE, Tennessee cinonnaron ronnoinnn summons ANDTHE LIKE Application filed April 16,

This invention relates to circulators for boiler furnaces and the like,and more particularly'to a device for promoting the circulationof airabout the furnace,

An important object of the invention is I the provision ofnieansutilizing the heat generated by theboiler furnace to speed up thecirculation of air to a point beyond that provided by thermal actionalone,

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide incombination with a boiler furnace having a water chamber in which wateris heated to generate steam a fan for causing circulation of air about;the exterior of the boiler furnace and a turbine operated by steamgeneratec in said chamber for operating the fan.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a structureof this character which may be included in the space provided betweensuch boiler furnace and the aclret with which such device is usuallyprovided.

These and other objects we attain bythe construction shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of iilustration is showna preferred embodiment of our invention and wherein Figure 1 is a sideelevation partially in section of a furnace embodying a circulatorconstructed in accordance with our invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the furnace with the top wall removed;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the blower fan.

Referring now more. particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10generally designates a furnace having a boiler chamber 11 til the upperend wall of the furnace and likewise provided in such upper wall with afilling opening or neck 13 having a removable cap 14. In accordance withour invention, .VVG surmount the outlet 12 with a turbine casing 15having disposed therein a turbine wheel 16, the shaft 17 of which isvertically directed and has secured to its upper end radially extendingarms 18. lhe upper end of the furnace is surrounded by a blower exhaustpipe.

permit theready flow of air therethrough, as

denser for the steam.

- limit ourselves thereto except provided with an outlet 12 openingthrough 1929. Serial No. 355,590.

fan structure 19 including angularly disposed vanes 20 for causing anupwardblast of air. To this blower structure, the ends of the-arms 18are secured The exhaust pipe 21 of the, turbinexcasing isextendeddownwardly along the wall of the furnace and into a water pan 22, whichcontainswater to a'level above the upper end of the The furnace issurrounded by a suitable ornamental casing 23, the upper wall 24 ofwhich is removable to permit ready access to the fan or turbine and, isperforated to in the usualstructure of this; character. 1 In operationof the device, when the heat of the furnace generates steam within thechamber 11, this steam passing through the outlet l2:will operate theturbine, causing the'blower fan 19 to rotate and promote circulation ofair upwardly through the casing. The exhaust of the fan passes throughthe outlet pipe21 into the water pan 22, which acts both as a silencerandas a con- A structure of this character provides for rapidcirculation of air about the furnace, thereby promoting the heatingefficiency thereof. At the same time, the small amount of moistureordinarily given off by the water chamber is augmented by a slight steamescape which supplies the necessary humidity. It will be obviousthatthis structure is capable of a certain range of change andmodification necessary to its application to various types of boilerfurnaces without in any manner departing fromthe spirit of theinvention, and we accordingly do not as hereinafter claimed;

l/Ve claim -1.,In combination with a furnace having a water chamberheated duringoperation of the furnace, a casing surroundingthe furnace,a blower surrounding the furnace ad-* .jacent the upper end thereof andwithin the casing and adapted when rotated to cause. an

- upward circulation of air within the casing,

a turbine supported from the furnace and connected with the waterchamber to receive 1 steam therefrom, a driving connection between theturbine and said blower, there being a water pan within the casing andadjacent the lower end thereof, and means for directing the exhaust fromthe turbine into the water in said pan.

2. Incombination with a furnace having a water chamber heated duringoperation of the furnace, an outlet for said chamber projecting throughthe top of the furnace, a turbine casing having a vertically directedrotor shaft carried by and receiving the steam supply from said outlet,a casing sur' rounding the furnace, a blower surrounding the upper endof the furnace within the easing and substantially radially extendingarms connecting the turbine, shaft and blower. V

3. In combination'with a furnacehaving a water chamber'heated duringoperation of the furnace, an outlet for said chamber projecting throughthe top of the furnace, a turbine casing having a vertically directedrotor shaft carried by and receiving the steam supply from said outlet,a casing surrounding the furnace, a blower surrounding the upper end ofthe furnace within the easing, substantially radially extending armsconnecting the turbine, shaft and blower,

there. being a water pan within the casing adjacent the lower endthereof, and means for directing the exhaust from the turbin into thewater in said pan.

4. In a furnace having a water heater disposed above the chamber for thegeneration of steam, a casing about the furnace overlying the waterchamber, a turbine casing mounted on the water chamber and adapted toreceive steam therefrom, a turbine wheel mounted within the casing forrotation about a vertical axis, and a fan comprising an annular framestructure, arms extending across the same and blades disposed about theperiphery of the frame, said arms being connected with said turbinewheel for the rotation of the frame and blades thereby.

5. In a furnace having a fire chamber, a water heater disposed abovethe-chamber for the generation of'steam, a casing about'the furnaceoverlying the water chamber, a turbine casing mounted on the waterchamber and adapted to receive steam therefrom, a turbine-wheel mountedwithin the casing for rotation about a vertical axis, and a fancomprising an annular frame structure, arms extending across the sameand blades disposed about the periphery of the frame, said .arms beingconnected with said turbine wheel for the rotation of the frame andblades thereby, said blades being disposed about the frame to extendobliquely across the peripheral portionthereof to create an upward blastof air and further being disposed between the fire chamber and the firstmentioned casing.

fire chamber, a

6. Ina furnace having a fire chamber, a water heater disposed above thechamber for the generation of steam, a casing about the furnaceoverlying the water chamber, a turbine casing mounted on the waterchamber and adapted to receive steam therefrom, a

turbine wheel mounted within the casing for rotation about a Verticalaxis, a fan comprising an annular frame structure, arms extendingacrossthe same and blades disposed about the periphery of the frame, said armsbeing connected with said turbine wheel for the rotation of the frameand blades thereby,

a water receptacle disposed between the first

